Does this look like "A little bit of bubbling"?

[keithski122]

My dad still has the bedford ca that he bought in 1976.

 

[Seadog]

My first car was a CF 2.3 in 1982.
A real racer. Went up to Scotland in it a couple of times. Tiring to drive because of the drumming, no bulkhead fitted.

 

[redlig]

As an owner of both, CFs when they were new and Transits later on, starting from the MkII, I can give a qualified opinion.
I liked the CF, but the one I had was a slow, thirsty brute, being saddled with the 1600 lump and slide doors. It handled well enough though and took me all over both commercially and for pleasure. Second CF was bought brand new and was a big improvement.
When I bought my first Transit I already knew what to expect as I'd driven a mate's on and off. The Transit was just different in subtle ways, but Ford had really scored with the ergonomics of car position and controls in van use, something other makers had struggled with. Recall, back then, the whole medium van market was polluted with such gems as the Morris JU, J4, Commer POS, etc, etc.
That first Transit was followed by a couple of others, which I put lotsa miles on and never regretted buying.
On balance, I'd have taken a CF II with the 2.3 engine and slam doors.

I had a J2 in 67 /68 lovely old bus as a first 4wheeler. It took me 2 months to find 1&2 gears but the long stroke would pull away in 3rd no problem. Paid £35 for it and gave it to a mate when the rust bugs stopped talking to each other to put the motor into a boat . Traded up to a 15cwt 4 speed Thames curtesy of girlfriend. We knew how to live!!